Money savers

How to Save Money in My City

I have done some work for fellow mdub and surrounding area dwellers.  This research is due to my extensive work in retail, tips from my mom, and my own shopping experiences.

1. a) I will start with what I know best- greeting cards.  If you must buy a greeting card, the cheapest places are Dollar Tree (where cards are 50 cents or a dollar) and Dollar General (where the exact same cards are the exact time prices, with the notable addition of sound cards for $2.50- $3.50). However, while some of these cards are of decent quality, I would only recommend them to people who expect them to be thrown away.
b) Big Lots offers better quality cards at 25% off.  These are my personal favorite, because of the creativity and craftsmanship.  They are worth the extra expense, in my opinion, especially if you think the receiver of the card will appreciate it.
c) Select Walmarts offer American Greetings cards at 10% off. The great thing about this is that they always have a 4-foot 47-cent to 97-cent section of decent cards for the cheap-minded.  My favorite section, however, is the 4-foot RPG selection of mostly funny cards that are made of recycled materials.  When a card makes me laugh out loud, that's a keeper.
d) Target offers very nice quality cards for every occasion you can think of.  When I have the extra dough and a good enough reason, I'll always spring for a card from Target.

2. The commissary on base has the best prices on spice packets, canned ravioli and spaghettios, shredded cheese, and reduced price meat, in addition to a clearance corner.

3.  If you are grocery shopping and you can't get into the commissary, go to Crest.  They are much cheaper than Walmart on most items. Soda- of all brands- is usually on sale, bottled water is a steal, they have Watonga cheese curds, the shopping carts can fit two kids in the front, the hamburger patties are the best quality, and they have the biggest selection and best prices on frozen pizza.

4. Walmart- the best deals at Walmart are always the off-brand labels.  Equate, Sam's Choice, etc. Medicine is cheapest here, diapers and off-brand Pediasure are cheapest here.  Clothes, shoes, toys, and electronics are cheapest here, especially if you look in the clearance sections.

5. Books- The Half-Price bookstore is your best bet for the biggest variety of used books and good prices.  Dollar General always has one rack of books that range in price from $1 to $5, and they are all paperbacks, but sometimes you can find a really good book there.

6. One last tip that a surprising number of people don't know: Holiday-themed  items are priced at least 50% off the day after the holiday.  This begins at midnight at 24-hour stores.  I hit Walmart every year the day after Halloween for cool panties and cheap candy.